Metro Rugby better

 THE Metropolitan Rugby Football Union, Port Moresby’s newly established rugby competition, is set to launch its inaugural season this month.

Metro RFU has secured two fields at the Sir John Guise sports complex and claims to have seven clubs for the 2011 season with two senior grades, under 20s and a  women’s division.

The established clubs participating include Harlequins, Wanderers, Royals, La Sallians, and  Southern Chiefs along with two new clubs, Spartans and Island Hawks which are breakaways from Defence and Brothers clubs respectively.

Having registered with IPA as an association an executive group has been set up to get the competition up and running in its inaugural year. 

Interim president Lawrence Tamilong reassured clubs in the new competition would be endorsed.

“The Metro Competition will be affiliated to the national body we want to reassure our clubs and players that they will be considered and made available for national selection,” Tamilong said. 

Other interim executives are Frank Makanuey (vice-president) and Howard Iorere (secretary).

Tamilong said Metro RFU was established to better promote the sport and focus on improving administration both within clubs and the competition and developing players, coaching practices, and officiating standards.

He added that regular coaching and refereeing clinics would be part of  Metro RFU’s annual calendar and the executives would ensure the administration of the competition is professional, accountable and transparent in the best interest of all the stakeholders.

Tamilong said the season will kick off with a 7s competition scheduled for the weekend of Feb 26-27 followed by a three-week pre-season then the season proper on April 2.